The constant rain in Rhineland-Palatinate is causing water levels on rivers and streams to rise again. In Altenglan in the Kusel district, two rain retention basins threatened to overflow on Tuesday evening.
In Altenglan on Tuesday evening there was an acute risk that a dam in the Patersbach district would no longer be able to withstand the water. According to the local fire department, the evacuation of 16 houses was being prepared. However, the situation eased over the course of the evening. The approximately 50 residents affected have been informed but can remain in their homes for the time being. Jens Werner, fire chief of the Altenglan Volunteer Fire Department, explained this to SWR upon request. A security guard monitored the situation overnight.
“The water was temporarily just below the ridge line of the reservoir,” said a fire department spokesman. However, the water level decreased in the evening.
If evacuation is necessary, residents will be informed via loudspeaker. The district said they could then find accommodation in the Altenglan multi-purpose hall.
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The continuous rain will cause water levels to rise sharply on numerous rivers and streams in the country until Thursday, according to the report Flood forecast center RLP. In addition to the Glan, the Lahn and Moselle are particularly affected – here the mark for a biennial flood can be exceeded. These values could also be achieved on Saar and Sieg. The situation on the rivers in detail:
Biennial floods on the Lahn and Moselle possible
Loud In the reporting center, the Trier Moselle gauge had already exceeded the reporting height of 6 meters on Tuesday evening. A water level of 7.73 meters was reached on Wednesday morning. The first road closures were ordered. Police and fire departments tow away cars that park too close to the water.
A rise of up to 8 meters cannot be ruled out, which would be equivalent to a biennial flood and therefore a moderate risk of flooding. From 6.95 meters onwards, shipping on the Moselle will be stopped. At around 7.20 the cellars in Reil in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district can start to fill up. Flood protection has already been set up in Zell an der Mosel, so the old town is protected up to a level of at least 8.20 meters at the Trier gauge.
The Moselle rose significantly overnight due to the continuous rain. The first streets were closed. According to the flood reporting center forecast, levels will continue to rise.
Also The water levels on the Lahn are expected to rise sharply. The flood forecast center says biannual flooding is possible here at the Leun (5.73 meters), Diez (5.60 meters) and Kalkofen (6.50 meters) gauges until Thursday.
Saar and Sieg could also exceed high water marks
No matter whether it’s high water or low water – it’s always about water levels. What it is, where the difference is from water depth – and why levels are a very individual thing.
On Wednesday, experts expect a biennial flood on the Saar near Fremersdorf (Saarland). Here the mark will probably be significantly exceeded with a water level of up to 5.40 meters.
At The reporting center considers the victory at Betzdorf to exceed the measured value for a biennial flood (3 meters) on Wednesday evening or Thursday.
To Glan and close According to the experts, the thresholds for biennial floods are unlikely to be exceeded by then. However, this cannot be completely ruled out. The Odenbach des Glan water level was 3.60 meters on Tuesday evening, which was above the reported level. According to the forecast, it should not rise above 4 meters.
The continuous rain is causing rising levels of rivers and streams in the West Palatinate. However, the fire brigades are not currently expecting any worse situations.
Forecast for Thursday: Rhine water level rises to 5 meters near Koblenz
Also Water levels are expected to rise again on the Rhine. For the Koblenz water gauge, for example, the flood forecast center expects the reporting height of 5 meters to be reached on Thursday night. The rising water level is already having an impact: the ferry “Nixe” between Remagen and Erpel (NRW) will no longer run from Wednesday at 3 p.m. At the relevant Andernach gauge, the critical mark of 5.70 meters is expected by midday.
However, as of Tuesday, critical marks will probably not be reached on the largest river in RLP in the coming days.
The constant rain is expected to continue in large parts of Rhineland-Palatinate until Thursday, he says German Weather Service in advance.